Canada beat Kenya

Canada beat Kenya by 58 runs and remain unbeaten after three matches of WCL Division 2. One more win will assure them of a place in the final and advancement to the World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe.

Kenya won the toss and put Canada in to bat. Gunasekera and Adhihetty (13) put on 49 for the first wicket, and after Pathirana fell cheaply Kumar (23) helped take the score to 94. When Kumar was out, 94/2 rapidly became 117/6 as wickets tumbled. Gunasekera was still there, reaching his fifty, and partnered by Dutta took the score to 149 before Dutta was stumped. Gunasekera had played an important and patient innings, but in the penultimate over, just after hitting his fourth six, was out hit wicket for 83 from 99 balls. A run out ended the innings, and Kenya will chase a target of 187.

Navi Dhaliwal – 3 wickets

Cecil Pervez struck in the first over of Kenya’s reply, having Karim caught behind. Gonadaria went on the attack, hitting Dhindsa for two sixes and a four in the fourth over, but Saad Bin Zafar caught him off his own bowling. Saad Bin Zafar struck again bowling Obanda for 22, and after 14 overs Kenya were 54/3. A run-out by Nitish Kumar broke a promising partnership, and Saad Bin Zafar took his third wicket to leave Kenya at 91/5. Dhindsa took wickets from consecutive balls, and another run out had Kenya 8 down, still needing 65 to win. Dhaliwal and Dutta polished off the tail to leave Canada winners by 58 runs. Dhaliwhal ended up with 3/15, and Saad Bin Zafar 3/30. Gunasekera was named man of the match,

In other matches, Namibia bowled out Oman for 165, and won by 2 wickets thanks to a 92 run 8th wicket partnership. UAE were bowled out for just 114 by Nepal who won by 4 wickets in a match reduced to 34 overs/ side. Canada top the table at 3-0, with Nepal at 2-1, and UAE, Namibia and Oman each with one win.